The Ampersand Foundation

Charity Number: 1167018

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £995,000 (charitable activities 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4-5 months (Expression of Interest to final decision)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £455,000 (largest grant awarded to date)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom

Contact Details

Website: www.theampersandfoundation.com

Email: info@theampersandfoundation.com

Phone: 01429 234414

Applicants are encouraged to reach out to discuss potential projects before applying.

Overview

The Ampersand Foundation is a UK grant-awarding trust founded in 2011 by businessman, collector and philanthropist Jack Kirkland, and run by CEO Flor Souto. Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded millions of pounds in grants to art institutions and visual art projects across the United Kingdom. With charitable expenditure of approximately £995,000 in the financial year ending March 2024, the Foundation focuses exclusively on advancing education and appreciation in the visual arts. Its largest single grant to date was £455,000 awarded to Graves Gallery in Sheffield for a five-year programme. The Foundation also launched a biennial £150,000 Ampersand Foundation Award in 2019, enabling curators to realize their “dream projects.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grants Programme: Open once per year, supporting projects delivered over an 18-month period. Grant amounts vary from approximately £5,000 to £50,000+ for most awards. Applications follow a two-phase process: Expression of Interest followed by full application for selected applicants.

Ampersand Foundation Award: £150,000 biennial award (£125,000 for project realization + £25,000 for publication) exclusively for Plus Tate network members (45 UK visual arts organizations). Winners have up to three years to deliver their project. Shortlisted organizations receive £5,000 each.

Major Multi-Year Grants: Unsolicited exceptional grants for transformative projects requiring sustained support. Examples include the £455,000 five-year grant to Graves Gallery, Sheffield.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports a wide variety of visual arts projects, including:

  • High-quality exhibitions (contemporary and historical art)
  • Artist commissions and new works
  • Public collection enhancement and acquisitions
  • Collection care and conservation
  • Artists' residencies and fellowships
  • Educational projects and community engagement
  • Public space interventions

Recent funded projects demonstrate interest in diverse artistic practices, emerging and established artists, socially engaged art, and projects that increase accessibility to art.

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital projects (building works, major renovations)
  • Core costs (general operational expenses, salaries)
  • Individual applications (only registered charities, exempt charities, CIOs, or CICs)
  • Projects delivered outside the UK
  • Organizations without a safeguarding policy
  • Projects that don't offer free public access at least one full day per week
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Governance and Leadership

Jack Kirkland (Chair and Founder): Chairman of Bowmer + Kirkland Ltd, Co-Chair of Tate's Photography Acquisitions Committee, and Trustee of the Bridget Riley Art Foundation. Recently appointed as a Trustee of Tate (2025-2029).

Flor Souto (CEO): Art historian with expertise in Latin American Cultural Studies, running the Foundation since 2011. Also manages a private art collection. Souto has emphasized the Foundation's commitment to supporting ambitious projects: “What we want to achieve with this award is to enable curators and directors working in a tough funding environment to realise a project that they have always wanted to do but have been unable to do so far due to funding pressure.”

Additional Trustees:

  • Victoria Siddall: Board Director at Frieze, founding member of Gallery Climate Coalition, Chair of Studio Voltaire trustees
  • Alastair Sooke: Telegraph's chief art critic, BBC presenter, author
  • Sam Thorne: Director General of Japan House London, former Director of Nottingham Contemporary and Artistic Director of Tate St Ives
  • Thiago Carvalho: Economics background with experience in real estate and art gallery governance
  • Simon Conway: Barrister and former journalist

Jonathan May (Deputy Director): Cultural programmer and creative producer with extensive international experience, formerly Director of Photoworks and Senior Programmer at British Council.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Annual Grants Programme:

  • Online application portal via website
  • Applicants encouraged to discuss project ideas with Foundation staff before applying

Ampersand Foundation Award:

  • By invitation only to Plus Tate network members
  • Biennial cycle
  • Proposal submission followed by shortlist presentation

Decision Timeline

Annual Grants:

  • Expression of Interest deadline: Early July
  • Invitations to full application: Mid-August
  • Full application deadline: Early October
  • Trustee meeting and final decisions: Mid-November
  • Typical total process: 4-5 months from initial Expression of Interest to decision

Ampersand Foundation Award:

  • Winners have up to 3 years to deliver projects after award announcement

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation receives a significant volume of applications during the annual grants cycle, with only selected organizations invited to submit full applications after the Expression of Interest phase.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated on the Foundation's website. Given the annual cycle, organizations can presumably reapply in subsequent years. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and Foundation priorities:

  1. Free Public Access: All projects must be free to the public at least one full day per week. This is a non-negotiable requirement and reflects the Foundation's commitment to accessibility.
  1. Ambitious “Dream Projects”: CEO Flor Souto emphasizes supporting projects that curators and directors “have always wanted to do but have been unable to do so far due to funding pressure.” Applications should articulate bold, innovative ideas that wouldn't be possible without external funding.
  1. Quality and Innovation: The Foundation Award specifically welcomes “innovative ideas, particularly those that are bold and unconventional.” Applications should demonstrate artistic excellence and creative ambition.
  1. Track Record and Capacity: Recent grants show preference for established institutions with proven capability to deliver complex projects. Demonstrating organizational stability and project management experience is important.
  1. Diverse Artistic Practice: Funded projects span photography, painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and interdisciplinary work, supporting both emerging and established artists, including international and UK-based creators.
  1. Social Impact and Engagement: Recent awards include projects addressing social themes, community engagement, and increasing diversity in collections and programming (e.g., DASH's work with disabled artists, socially engaged exhibitions).
  1. Strong Curatorial Vision: Applications should articulate clear curatorial rationale, especially for the Foundation Award which is designed to realize a curator or director's specific vision.
  1. Pre-Application Discussion: The Foundation encourages potential applicants to reach out before submitting. This suggests they value relationship-building and dialogue about project fit.

Example Funded Projects:

  • Graves Gallery, Sheffield: £455,000 five-year programme for collection redisplay, conservation, and education
  • Turner Contemporary: “Resistance” exhibition curated with Steve McQueen examining protest and photography
  • DASH: 2021 Ampersand Foundation Award winner supporting disabled artists
  • Grizedale Arts: 2025 Award winner for “Reform Life” project
  • National Gallery, Nottingham Contemporary, Studio Voltaire, Photoworks: Regular multi-year grant recipients

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is Critical: Applications are accepted only once annually. Missing the deadline means waiting a full year. Monitor the website for announcements.
  • Free Access Requirement: Ensure your project includes at least one full day per week of free public access. This is mandatory and should be clearly stated in your application.
  • Build Relationships Early: The Foundation welcomes pre-application discussions. Contact staff to explore fit before investing time in a full application.
  • Think Big and Bold: Position your project as something transformative that couldn't happen without this funding. Avoid modest or incremental proposals.
  • Demonstrate Organizational Readiness: Show your charity has the governance, safeguarding policies, and project management capacity to deliver successfully.
  • Two-Phase Strategy: Craft a compelling Expression of Interest that will secure an invitation to full application. This is your first critical hurdle.
  • Multi-Year Potential: While most grants are annual, exceptional projects may receive multi-year support. If appropriate, articulate a longer-term vision.
  • Plus Tate Network: If your organization is a Plus Tate member, monitor opportunities for the prestigious biennial Award separately from annual grants.

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